Construction 'well underway'

The third America’s Cup racing yacht to be built in Anacortes is well underway, BMW Ocean Racing, the U.S. Challenger for the 33rd America’s Cup, confirmed today.

The multihull yacht is being built for San Francisco’s Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) team for a match against the defender later this year. This will be the third America’s Cup racing yacht the U.S. team has built in this waterfront community 100 miles (160 km) north of Seattle.

“We are proud to be in Anacortes where we can draw on world-class expertise and where the team has enjoyed so much local support,” said the team’s Boat Construction Manager Mark Turner. The team built its two America’s Cup Class yachts USA 87 and USA 98 in Anacortes for the 32nd America’s Cup competition in 2007 in Valencia, Spain.

The rules that govern the America’s Cup, the Deed of Gift, require the boat to be constructed in the country of challenge. “We selected Anacortes due to our successful track record here, thanks to supportive local officials, a fantastic marine infrastructure and the proximity to aerospace-quality tooling and other support operations required to build such a high-tech America’s Cup boat,” Turner said. “Anacortes was the clear choice, we are very happy to be back here,” he said.

Turner is working alongside co-construction manager Tim Smyth. Housed in a 100ft by 200ft (30m x 60m), three-story shed, the building has been converted into a purpose-built composite yacht construction facility. The team also works with Janicki Industries in nearby Sedro-Woolley which provide high-tech precision tooling for the boat construction.

“Since last December we have been focused on being ready for this match, and getting the boat in the water as soon as possible,” Turner said. .

He said the team would provide further updates on the boat’s construction soon.